Saturday, July 15, 2017

Journalists' Brains Exhibit Lower Than Average Levels Of Executive Functioning

A new study, led by neuroscientist and leadership coach Tara
Swart and conducted in association with the London Press Club, found that
journalists’ brains exhibit lower than average levels of executive functioning.
This means they have a less than average ability to control their emotions,
solve complex problems, show creative and flexible thinking, and suppress biases.

Well,
knock me over with a feather.

The
study, as reported by Business Insider,
analyzed 40 journalists from newspapers, magazines, broadcast media, and online
platforms over the course of seven months in an attempt to determine how they function
under stress. The journalists participated in tests relating to their
lifestyle, health, and behavior, with each subjected to a blood test. They also
wore a heart-rate monitor for three days, kept a food and drink diary for a
full week, and completed a brain profile questionnaire.

The
results showed that the journalist’s brains operated at a lower level than the
average population. No surprise there. This was assumed to be, in part, because
of dehydration, and their significantly greater-than-average intake of alcohol,
caffeine and high-sugar foods. Less than 5% of those in the study drank the
recommended daily amount of water.

Interestingly
enough, interviews showed the group as a whole thought their jobs had a great
deal of meaning and purpose. No surprise there, either.

A
majority of them just don’t possess the traits necessary to do those jobs well,
speaking of the obvious.

Many
“journalists” admittedly get into the business to “change the world.” And, for
many, their desire to characterize events in a manner in keeping with their
biases leads them to project their take on events rather than objectively
describing them. This accomplished, they can then nod knowingly, smile
ingratiatingly, imbue their voices with caustic sarcasm, or fairly shout in
righteous anger in preening attempts to display their superior morality.

In this
way, they turn reality into mawkish theater. Thus, they create news. Thereby, by definition, fake news is born. The very
fake news they claim to abhor.

Daily Trivia Quiz Answer

Today's Answer: Andrew Jackson. ("Poll" got so worked up before the service he apparently had to be removed from the premises, as he was cussing long and loud).

Q) What words appear on the front of the penny, nickel, dime and quarter, alongside the likeness of presidents?

A) "Liberty" and "In God We Trust"

An Ode To Life

Appreciate all you have, as it- and you- will soon be gone. Leave no heartfelt words unspoken, no sweet gesture incomplete, no act of love undone. Love your spouse with passion and abandon, your kids with patience and understanding but also a firm guidance. Love also the truth, no matter how hard. If pursued by enough people with enough courage, it really will set us free.

And don't forget, we didn't ask to be born. We didn't create ourselves. We are not gods. There is a higher power.

Fireworks of the Mind

Write It Up

Whence Shall Come Another?

True Then, True Now

"If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."- Winston Churchill

Time Well Wasted

The power lies within your hands To do with what you may But the hourglass is filled with sands Of endless yesterdays